Turbine.



L. s. PLATAU.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. z8, 1912.

Patented May 19, 1914..

4 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

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wwvwoow L. S. FLATAU.

TURBINB.

i AEPLIGATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912. '1,097,412., Patented. May 19, 1914.

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j Liso" v fr l Q3 A?? 77 751 L. S. FLATAU.

TURBmB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912.

'1 097,412, Patented May 19, 1914. v v SHEETErSIIEBT 3.

L. S. FLATAU.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2a, 1912.

.Patntea May 19, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@ALTES LOUIS S. FLAGU, F ST. LOUIS, MISSORE.

TUREHTE.

restais.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented relay 1th 12111.

To all 'whom it 'may concern Be it known that l, Louis S. FLATAU, a citizen oi the United States, residing at St. Louis city, State of Missouri, have invented certain new' and useful improvements in Turbine-Engines, of which the following is a specilication.

ll/ly invention relates to an improvement in turbine engines and more particularly to that type in Which a constant flow oi fluid under pressure from the nozzles against the vanes on la vane member liournaled in juxtaposition to the nozzles causes the vane member to be rotated by the impact of the fluid against the varies.

rlhe 'object or' this invention is in the provision of a stationary vane member and tivo rotatable vane members7 one mounted to revolve Within the stationary member and the other Without, and a fluid chamber mounted to be stationary Within the inner rotary vane member and having nozzles to direct the fluid against the inner vane member for turning it, and thence the fluid `passes through the stationary member and again exerts force upon the outer vane member, thus virtually providing a high and low pressure turbine.

,A further object is in providing two sets of nozzles disposed at different angles to lrive the rotatable vane members in either forward or reverse directionand in the provision oi' means for controlling the passage of the iiuid to one or the other oi the sets ot' nozzles r shutting oilfthe loW to either. o A still further object is in the provision of a governor' operating in conjunction 'with the rotatable vane members to control the supply of Huid to the iluid chamber and con; sequently maintain the speed of the engine at a uniform rate.

With these objects in view, the invention `consists of certain novel features of construe tion and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

inthe accompanying drawingseliguro 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the axis of rotation oi' the several parts; llig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the mechanism :1s shown in l7 more clearly to illustrate the detail parts;

Alliff. 3 is a view in to) Ulan' Fi. 4f is a C i 3 b View in end elevation with the upper portion section transversely of the axis of rotation;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-'5 oi y Fig. l, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryseotional View to better illustrate the relative positions ofthe several sets of vanes and shovys the travel of the drivingliuid with. respect thereto in dotted lines.

0n the base A. a casing which is formed of the two halves B and @i is constructed and the halves have bearings 1 and 2 respectively formed thereon. A.

A stationary vane member D has its shank 3 received in the bearing l and is held against rotation therein by the key l in any other suitable manner. rlho 'stationary vane memloer l) is formed ci the two shells a and 5 which are secured together and held spaced apart by the vanes 6 placed at regular intervals between the shells around their outer edges. wWithin the shank 3 of the vane niemloer D a stem 7 connected with. the flanged plate 8 is held against rotation by a key 9. A fluid chamber which comprises the ivall 10 and side 11 is secured to the tree Ytace of the flange plate 8 by screws 127 12. thus 'forming a iiuid chamber 13. A rotary vane member E is received between the iluid chamber 13 and the statiorina-yI vane member D tatable vane member F is placed between the stationary member D and the casing B,

C, and has its shells 17 and 18 journaled upon bearings 19 formed on'the stationary member D and held spaced apart by the vanos 20 similar to the vanes (i and 16. 'lhe shells V15 and 18 are held against rotation Withrespect to each other by a key 2l which connects the vane members E and F to revolve together. @n a hub 22 of the shell 18 a gear 28 is formed, and 'journaled on the stud shaft 24 carried by the plate secured to the half C olf the casing, are spur gears 26 which mesh with the gear 28 to be revolved as the members vlil and ll are turned.

A drive shaft (if is journaled in the bearing 2 on the half C of the casing and has connected thereto by a hey 2'? a hanged plate The plate 28 is mounted in the casing with its flange inclosing the spur gears 26 and secured to the ilange is an internal driving gear 29 which meshes with the spur gears 26 and imparts power to the drive shaft G. The flange 11 has a plurality of radial counterbores in its outer circumference. These counterbores 30 are preferably arranged in pairs as better shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and between each pair the flange is cut away as at 31 with lthe side walls of the cut away portion preferably at an angle of 45 degrees to the counterbores 30.' Plugs 32 are screwed or otherwise secured in the outerl end of the counterbores 30 and ducts 33 disposed preferably at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the c'ounterbores, are connected therewith and extend to the notched portion 31 of the rim. In each of the ducts 33 nozzles aresecured, some of which, 34, are positioned to have their openings projecting in one direction, and the remainder of the nozzles, 35, are positioned to have their openings projecting in the opposite direction land approximately at right angles to the nozzles 34.

The rim 10 has cross bores 36 which connect with the counterbores 30 and have their outer ends in communication with the fluid chamber 13. As a means of controlling the passage of fluid to one or the other of the sets of nozzles 34 and 35, valves 37 are provided. These valves 37, as better shown in has secured to its outer end a throttle lever' Fig. 6, are formed of a single piece of sheet metal which-is pivoted to the rim 10 by a pivot screw 38, and have one end projecting in position to cover both of the cross bores 36 to each set of counterbores 30, one of which communicates with the duct to the nozzle 34 and the other to the nozzle 35. It will be understood that there is a valve 37 for each set of counterbores 30 and that the valve is intended to establish communication through the opening 39 formed. in its free end between one or the other of the counterbores 30 of the set, or to close both, as shown in Fig. 6.

As a means of' supplyingv fluid to the fluid chamber 13 a pipe 40 is controlled by a valve 41, which may he of the ordinary globe or any lother approved type, and extends through the hearing 1 on the half B of the casing and within the stem 7 carrying the flanged plate 8. A sleeve 42 is mounted to turn on the pipe 40 within the stem 7 and 43. As a means of controlling'the valves 37, a grooved collar 44 is secured to the inner end of the sleeve 43 by a key 45. rlhe free inner ends 46 of the valves 37 are received in the grooves of the collar 44 and the pins 47 pass through the collar and through elongated slots 48 in the ends 46 of the valves, whereby as the throttle lever 43 is turned thc collar 44 is thus moved. The outer or opposite ends of the valves 37 may be shifted around their pivots at 38 to control the passage of iiuid through the nozzles 34 and 35.

As a means of maintaining a uniform speed in the engine untlr operation a governor valve 49, which is* to all intents and purposes an ordinary clone valve, is positioned to be operated with relation to a seat 50 fo-rmed on that end of the pipe 40 which projects into the fluid chamber 13. The valve 49 has a stem 51 connected thereto which is held to revolvev bya stud shaft 56 journaled in a bearing formed in the stud bearing 16a and rojects back through an axial bore 52 in t e drive shaft. The stem 5l has a screw threaded bore at 54 in its outer end, and an adjusting screw is adapted to be fed into, or withdrawn from, the bore by turning with a screw driver or other instrument 55 due to its vscrew threaded engagement with the collar 56 secured to the end of the drive shaft Gr. The stud shaft 56 is connected to revolve with the drive shaft G by a pin 57 which is received through the drive shaft and an elongated slot 58 in the stem, thus providing for endwise movement of the stem and consequently of the valve toward and away from its seat. Wings 59` 59, are formed on the stem 51 within the fiuid chamber 13 and pivoted to the wings 59^are the governo-r weights 60 which carry the lugs 61 at their pivot points in position to be received in recesses 62 formed in the stem 51. In this way the centrifugal force exerted on the governor weights closes the valve and controls the supply of fluid. On the inner circumference of a'ring J held between the casing halves B and C vanes 64 are formed which project inwardly from the ring and are stopped short of the vanes 20 on the vane member F so that suflicient clearance will be allowed for the member l" to be revolved adjacent the vanes 64.

The operation of the device is as follows: The vvalve 41 in the pipe 40 is opened, and the fluid, which may be steam, gas, or any other suitable medium,. flows through the pipe 40'and into the fluid chamber 13. Assuming that the engine is to be driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the throttle lever 43 is turned to the left which throws the valves 37 in such a posi- Rev tion that the openings therein communicate l 1;

with the cross bores 36 which leadto the counter-bores 30 and ducts 33 in which noz'- zles 35 are connected. This permits the fluid to pass through the cross bore, counterbore and duct and out through the nozzle 35, after passing out through the nozzle 35 it hits against the faces a of the vanes 16 on the rotary vane member E from which it is guided back by the curve of the faces a against the faces b of the vanes 6 on-the stationary vane member D, and as the vanes 6 are stationary, the liuid is given a new force in the same direction in which it was expelled from the nozzle 35 by the curve of the faces Z). The fluid passes outwardly against the faces a of the vanes 16, back against the facesb of the vanes 6, forward against the faces c of vanes 20, and then back again against the faces al of vanes 64, after which it passes out from the casing B, C through the exhaust opening 65.

'll`he vane members E and F which are re y volved'bythe fluid, are connected together and the gear 23 which is formed on the hub of the member F-meshes -with the spur gear 26 'mounted on a part of the'casing and through theiry engagement with the `internal drive gear 29 cause the drive shaft G to be driven for transmitting power.

lt is intended that the pockets 65 and 66, which arel formedon the casing halves B and C respectively, shall atall times have oil or other suitable lubricant therein to the height of perhaps onethird to one-half the diameter ofthe pockets and in the pocket 65 a collar 67 is secured to revolve with the vane member yF to which collar carriers 68 are secured to cause the oil to be splashed or carried tol suitable `ducts' connecting with the several bearingsV on that side of the casing.` rihe internal driving gear 25 and its connectingpartarand also the sourgear'26 in the pocket 66 will sufficiently agitatethe oil in that pocket and will carry it to'ducts connecting with the'bearings contained Within the half C of the casing and in the base A an oil chamber 69 is formed which is connected by vtubes 70, 70 with the oil pockets and 66 and has a drain pipe 71 which is controlled by a stop cock 72 for removing the oil from the oil chamber 69 for cleanin or any other purpose.' Oil is introduce into the oil pockets 65 and 6 6 through the openings 73 in the upper walls thereof which are closed by caps 74. f I

As the temperatur-eci1 theoil in the pockets 65 and 66 will ybe relatively higher than that in the chamber 69, a constant circulation will be forced from the pockets through the tubes into the chamber and back into the pockets, thus permitting of theuse of' a relatively largey quantity of oil and maintaining it at a lower temperature than could otherwise be maintained. As a means'of draining the oil from the bottom` of the casing B, C, drain pipes l5 and 76 are connected on opposite sides near the bottom thereof. f

lt'wilh of course, be understood that if the engine is to be driven in a direction Vopposite to that described, the throttle lever d3 will be shifted to the right, thus opening fluid to make its impact against the oppo- .site faces of the vanes 16, 6, 20 and 64, which would drive the shaft G in the opposite direction. As the speed of the engine in creases above a certain point, the governor weights 60 in the `fluid chamber 13 move more nearly to the perpendicular, due to the centrifugal force, causing the cams 61 to bear against the disk 62 and forcing valve 49 inwardly in closer relation to its seat 50 which decreases the supply of fluid passing from the pipe V40 and consequently reduces the speed of the engine.

It will thus be seen that i have provided a turbine engine in which the duid pressure has several VdI-'iving impacts without materially increasing the quantity of 'fluid used and which may be driven forwardly or in reverse at equal speed and the same power, and also that the engine, when traveling at full speed ahead, may be thrown to full speed reverse without straining various mechanism, as the fluid pressure upon-the vane members acts as a cushion to absorb the shocks which would otherwise result. Further, I have provided means whereby when once the engine is adjusted to travel at a predetermined speed, that speed is maintained regardless of the load underV which the engine is working by regulatingv the supply of fluid thereto,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure bylletters Patent is'- v 1. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary vane members, a

.plurality of rotatable vane members mounted to revolve adjacent the stationary members, Vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall of the casing, and nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid so that it directsl an impact against the rotatable and stationary vane members alternately and lastly against the vanes of the casing.

2. A turbine engine comprising a casing,V a plurality of stationary vane members, a plurality of rotatable vane members mountn ed alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationary members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall of the casing, and nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid so that it directs an impact against the alternate rotatable and stationary members and lastly against the vanes of the casing.

.3. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a plurality ot stationary vane members, a plurality of rotatable vane members, mounted alternately with respect to, and to reu volve Within, the stationary members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall ot the casing, and a plurality of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against one 'of' the rotatable vane members from which it is deflected to one of the stationary members which in turn deeets the motive Huid to another ofthe rotatable members and the fluid continues its deflected course from rotatable to stationary member out through the several vane members lastly'exerting a driving impact against .the vanes of the casing from whence it passes to the exhaust.

4. A turbine enginecomprising a casing, a plurality of stationary members, a plurality of rotatable members, vanes on each of said stationary and rotatable members, the rotatable members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the said stationary members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall of the casing, all

lso

of said parts so positioned that the vanes of the several members are in alinement, and nozzles mounted todischarge the motive fluid against the vanes for causing the rotatable members to revolve.

5. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary members, a plurality of rotatable members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationary members, double faced vanes formed on the said stationary and rotatable members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential'wall of the casing, and noz-A passes to the'exhaust.

(i. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary members'. a- Dlurality of rotatable members mounted al/tei? nately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationaiy members, vanes on eachof said stationary and rotatable members and on the inner circumferential wall of the casing, a set of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the face of the vanes on the rotatable members for impart?4 entirely.

7. A turbine engine comprising ,a casing, a pluralityof stationary members, a plurality of rotatable members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationary members, double faced vanes formed on the Said stationary and rotatablemembera'like vanes carried by thel inner circumferential wall of the casing, a'

set of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the faces of the vanes on one of said rotatable members, from whence itis deflected to the back of the vanes on one of the stationary members, then to the face of the vanes on the next r0- tatable member and so on through the several vane members to the vanes of the casing, from whence it passes to the exhaust, thus imparting a forward revoluble movement to the rotatable members, a second set of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive iuid against the backsof the Ivanes on the rotatable members and the faces of the vanes on the stationary members for imparting a reverse revoluble movement to the rotatable members, and means for controlling the supply of motive fluid to one or the other of said sets of nozzlesl and cutting ofi" entirely the supply of motive uid.

8. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a plurality of stationary vane members, a plurality of rotatable vane members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationary members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall of the casing, nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against one of said rotatable members' from which it is deflected to one of said Stationary members, back again to a second rotatable member and continues in its deflected course through the several vane members to the vanes Vof the casing, from whence it passes to the exhaust, thus revolving therotatable members, a drive shaft, and means connecting the rotatable members with the drive shaft. i

9. turfbine engine comprising aA casing, a plurality ,of stationary vane members, a plurality of rotatable vane members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within the stationary members, vanes carried by the inne` circumferential wall of the casing', a stationary Huid chamber mounted within said stationary and rota-` table members, nozzles connected with said fluid chamber in position to discharge the motive fluid against the vanesof the several vmembers whereby the rotatable members are caused to revolve, and means for supplying motive fluid tothe fluid chamber.

10. Aturbine engine Vcomprising a casing, a plurality of stationary vane members, a plurality of rotatable vane members mounted alternately with respect to, and to revolve within, the stationary members, vanes carried by the inner circumferential wall of the casing, a stationary luidchamber mounted within said stationary and rota; table members, nozzles connected with said ',iuid vchamber inposition to discharge the motive fluidagainst the vanes of the several members whereby the rotatable members are caused to revolve, means for supplying mo? noos/taie tive fluid to the duid chamber., and a goveiner valve in the fluid chamber actuated by the movement oi the rotatable members for lover-nine,` the supply of motive fluid and thus maintaining' a constant 4speed oi the rotatable members.

ll. A turbine engine coniprisinn a easing, a rotatable member mounted in the casing', a stationary member received Within thevrotatable member, a second rotatable member mounted in the stationary member, vanes on each of said members having?,- openings therebetween, vanes carried by the inner circumferential Wall et the casing' and nozzles positioned 4to discharge against the vanos of one oi the rotatable members, after which it is deflected against the vanes of each el the other members, thus causing'. the rotatable members to be revolved.

l2. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a rotatable member in the casing, a stationary member in said rotatable member, a second rotatable member in said stationary member, vanes carried by each of said members spaced'apart to have openings therebetvveen and positioned to be in alinement with the vanes of each of the other members, vanes on the inner circumferential Wall oi? the casing in alinement with the vanes of the several members, and nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes ot the second rotatable member which detlects it to the vanes of the stationary member which in turn deects to the vanes of thelirst rotatable member and these vanos in turn deflect the motive 'fluid against the vanes'of the casing from whence it passes to the exhaust.

13. A turbine engine comprisinga casing, a rotatable member in the casing, a stationary member in said rotatable member, a second rotatable member in said stationary member, vanes carried by each ot said members, vanes on the inner circumferential Wall of the casingv in alinement with the vanes of the several members, nozzles positioned to discharge the motive iiuid against the vanes or each of' said members and of the easing for causing the rotatable members to be revolved, a drive shaft, and means connecting the rotatable members with the drive shaft.

14C. A turbine engine comprising a casing', a rotatable member mounted in the casing, a stationary member received in 'said rotatable member, a second rotatable member mounted in said stationary member, a fluid chamber secured Within the second rotatable member, vanes carried by each of said members, a setol3 nozzles carried .by the fluid chamber in position to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes for re voli/'ing the rotatable members in a forward the motive fluid' direction, a second set of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against .the vanos to revolve the rotatable members in a reverse direction, and manually operated means for controlling the supply ot fluid from the fluid chamber to each ot said sets of nozzles and cutting off the tlovv thereto.'

l5. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a. rotatable member mounted in the cas ing, a stationarjY member received Within said rotatable member, a second rotatable member mounted in said stationary member, vanes carried by each of said members, nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes of each of said members, means connecting the rotatable members to `revolve together, a gear formed on one of said rotatable members, a drive shaft, a drive gear carried by said drive shaft, and spur gear carried by the casing to actuate the drive gear for transmitting power to the drive shaft.

16. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a rotatable member mounted in the calsing, a stationary member received in said rotatable member, a second rotatable member mounted in said. stationary member, a fluid chamber secured Within the second rotatable member, vanes carried by each et said members, a set of nozzles carried by the fluid chamber in position to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes for revolving1 the rotatable members in a forward direc tion, a second set of nozzles positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes to revolve the rotatable members in a reverse direction, manually operated .means for controlling the supply of fluid from the fluid chamber to cach of said sets of nozzles and cuttingo'' the flow thereto, a fluid supply pipe connected With the lluid chamber, a governor valve in the iluid chamber for controlling the supply thereto through the luid supply pipe, and a governor connected with saio governor valve and actuated by the movement of the rotatable members.

17. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a rotatable member mounted in the casing, a' stationary member received in said rotatable member,l a second rotatable .member mounted in said stationary member, a fluid chamber secured within the second rotatable member, vanes carried by each of said` members, nozzles connected with the luid chamber and positioned to discharge the motive fluid against the vanes of tbe several memu bers for revolving the rotatable members, means connecting; the rotatable members to revolve together, a gear formed on one of the rotatable members, a drive shaft, a drive gear carried by the drive shaft, spur gear carried by the casing; meshingr with said 4gear Wheel and drive gear, a 'luid supply pipe to the lluid chamber, manually'oper- Htl ated valves for controlling the passage of quently vary the speed at which the rotata- 10 fluid from the Chamber to the nozzles, a govble members revolve.

ernor valve received in the Huid chamber in In testimony whereof I aix' my signaposition to control the supply of the Huid ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

throuvh the Huid supply pipe said valve actuated: by the movement of the rotatable LOUIS S FLATAU members, and means for adjusting the gov- Witnesses:

ernor valve to vary the passage of fluid E. OBERLE,

through the fluid supply pine and conse- D. C. WRAY. 

